Page 49 of The River of Fire

Chapter 36 – Lana

“Ugh,” I groan, feeling stiff as a board from the long trek in the caves. I stretch my arms above my head, giving a baleful look at the dim gray light peeking through the heavy, dark red velvet curtains.

It’s hard to tell the time of day in most areas of Hell, seeing as the sky remains unchanged. Purgatory is always blanketed by darkness and the ever-present red celestial lights. And when you leave the fortress, you walk under a sky of glowing, burning red and orange. Ashtaroth’s domain is bleak and gray, but it does seem to grow darker and lighter in regular intervals.

My bladder is urging me to the toilet, and as I clumsily descend from the tall bed, I nearly land on the tiny curled-up beast sleeping by it. I swallow back my yelp and skirt around a lightly snoring Puck. I wonder why he isn’t sleeping on the bed – he had no problems climbinginto it yesterday.

I wash and dress, ignoring the slight ache in my lower belly. Truthfully, my period cramps are usually a lot worse, but a good workout on the first day does wonders. I flush at the thought of the workouts I had yesterday. That demon is ravenous and nothing deters him from having what he wants.

I decide to visit with Kevin first – if he’s not otherwise occupied – and walk down the corridors I was shown by the guard yesterday, a now-awake Puck traipsing by my side. We find Kevin dressed, mercifully, but walking somewhat stiffly. He refuses to tell me what that’s about, though the spectrum of reds and pinks marking his face makes me think up a few likely scenarios.

“Out with it,” I grumble after watching Kevin fidget with pursed lips for several minutes once I caught him up with the search for Simone. We’re sitting on a cushioned bench on Naamah’s balcony, sipping the coffee I asked for from a passing servant in the hallways. The coffee was delivered so fast that I had to wonder if there are hidden passageways throughout the castle – most Celestial creatures aren’t strong enough to use the ether for transportation.

Puck took one look at a plush velvet sofa and plopped onto his belly to nap.

“Are you sure he doesn’t hurt you?” Kevin finally asks.

I lift my brows. “That question sounds like I may be confused as to whether he is or isn’t,” I reply, smiling at him teasingly. Predictably, Kev flushes again, stammering. It’s so familiar to me and comforting, this camaraderie we share, and I ruffle his soft brown hair.

“I just… we ran into him in the hallways yesterday. Uh, Naamah and me,” he clarifies, shifting awkwardly and I have to bite my lip to hide my smile. “I kind of butted into their bullshit conversation to ask about you and Simone. He said he would’ve killed me if it wasn’t for you.”

He’s watching me with a weary look, so I refrain from calling him an idiot. “Would you have interrupted an archdemon’s conversation, if it wasn’t someone I was, eh… entangled with? If itwasn’t the uncle of someone you’re entangled with?”

Still flushing, his eyes now widen in realization, that he may have, again, acted recklessly. “I guess not,” he mumbles.

“Well, then. Don’t do it again.” I stick my tongue out at him to pull him out of the maudlin mood. “I’m not scared of him,” I add. “Well, that’s a lie, I am scared of some things, but not that he’ll hurt me. Not anymore.”

Kev sputters. “How? Why?”

I shrug. “I know how that sounds, believe me. It’s just…” Now it’s my turn to flush and fidget under Kevin’s wide-eyed stare. “He makes sure I eat. And drink.” I see him rolling his eyes at me. “Oh, I know how that sounds, Kev. But it’s not just that. He tries to do it… perfectly, you know?”

“Like when you buy an expensive cat with a pedigree and want to make sure you treat it accordingly?” he asks dryly.

“Fuck off,” I grumble.

“Sorry, sorry, go on.” He places a hand on my arm and squeezes gently.

“What I meant to say is, he seems to willingly go against his nature and thousands of years of habits to make sure I’m well.”

“That’s the problem, isn’t it, Lan?” He’s speaking softly now, holding my gaze. “You can’t change thousands of years of habit, let alone your nature in a month, or however long he’s been obsessing over you.”

“Mm,” I reply, agreeing though I don’t want to.

“It’s just sex, right?” Kevin asks, brows up. “Itisjust sex, Lana?” he repeats when I don’t reply. “Please tell me you know that however he acts, it’s just an affectation that won’t last.”

“Since when are you the mature one in this partnership?” I quip.

“Don’t deflect with a joke now.”

He’s still giving me that stern look so I reply, “Yup. We’ll be home soon.”

I don’t tell him about Ashtaroth’s question last night, whether I would stay if given the choice, but the way he’s looking at me now shows me he’s not quite convinced anyway.

???

I find Ash in his throne room. Armaros and Sariel pass me with a wink, clearly already following new orders.

I walk up to the archdemon, admiring the way he looks on that massive black seat. The armrests are decorated with wrought metal demonic arms, hands ending in grasping claws. I remember how the metal groaned under his hands the last time he was angry and sitting there. I don’t see it now, as he covers most of it, but I know the backrest holds a depiction of those same clawed hands ripping open a ribcage.

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